Flying machine



June 10, 1930. E FRANCESCONI ET AL 1,762,657

FLYING MACHINE Filed April 17, 1928 4 sheet sheet l luvs/V7019; 0FRAxcEscom. VALENTINO L. BIANCHL I 7 M mu uvwummxzsuu June 10, 1930. cscom ET AL v 7 1,762,657

FLYING MACHINE Filed April 17, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS- EZZIOFRANCESCONI.

VALENTINO L. BIANCHL J1me 1930- E. FRANCESCONI E L FLYING MACHINE FiledApril 17, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR-S.

EZZlO FRANCESCONI.

VALENTINO L. BIANCHL 7W%- a v V June 10, 1930.

E. FRANCESCONI ET L FLYING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 17, 1928INVENTORS.

,2 mw dr ma m ML 0 m mm ZE L EMMY Patented June 10, 1930 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE EZZIO FRANCESCONI, OF SAN FRANCISCO, AND VALENTINO L.BIANCHI, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA FLYING MACHINE Application filed April17,

Our invention relates to improvements in flying machines wherein a motorcycle or the like is arranged to be fitted with collapsible wings andwith propelling and steering means whereby the machine may be operatedeither upon the ground or in the air.

The primary object of our invention is to provide an improved flyingmachine.

Another object is to provide an improved machine which may be used fortransportation either upon the ground or in the air.

A further object is to provide an improved flying machine havingcollapsible wings which may be readily moved to operative or inoperativepositions as desired.

A further object is to provide an improved flying mechanism of thecharacter described which may be readily applied upon and operated by amotor cycle.

Another object is to provide an improved collapsible wing constructionand wing operating mechanism.

A further object is to provide improved steering means which may beeasily connected and operated by and in conjunction with the steeringmechanism of a motor cycle.

A still further object is to provide an improved machine of thecharacter described which is light and compact in form and which can bemanufactured and operated economically and efliciently.

We accomplish these and other objects by means of the improved devicedisclosed in the drawings forming a part of the present applicationwherein like characters of reference are used to designate similar partsthroughout the specification and drawings, and in which- Fig. 1 is abroken plan view of my improved flying machine, one wing being shown incollapsed position and with the covering removed;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine;

Fig. 8 is a broken plan view of a portion of the wing frame and steeringmeans;

1928. Serial No. 270,769.

Fig. 4 is a broken plan view of a portion of the wing frame and steeringconnections and driving mechanism, the figure being drawn upon asomewhat larger scale;

Fig. 5 is a broken sectional view of a por tion of the wing frame asmounted upon a motor cycle and showing the steering connections;

Figs. 6 and 7 are broken detail views of the handle bar connect-ions ofthe steering mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the wing frame alone;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the frame as shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the propeller driving connections;

Fig. 11 is a sectional detail taken upon the line 1111 of Fig. 1 in thedirection indi cated;

Fig. 12 is a broken detail showing the manner in which the ends of theribs are braced when extended; and

Fig. 13 is a view of the parts shown in Fig. 12 when moved to foldedposition.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 is used to designate in generala motor cycle of the well known form and construction having a frame 2provided with front and rear fork portions 3 and 4 arranged to receivewheels 6, the front fork 3 being pivotally movable and provided with ahandle bar 7 for steering the cycle upon the ground in the well knownmanner. The cycle is provided with a suitable power motor 8 connected tothe rear wheel 6 by means of a chain 9 or other suitable driving meansfor propelling the machine along the ground. The specific constructionof the motor-cycle is well known in the art and requires no de-.

tailed description herein.

A wing frame designated in general by the numeral 11 is detachablysecured upon the frame 2 of the cycle, preferably by means of suitableclamp portions 12, 18, and 14 engaging the frame 2 The frame 11 is madesubstantially T shaped in cross section and extends longitudinally fromfront and back of the motor-cycle 1. A yoke portion 16 is arranged tofit over the rear wheel of the cycle, and a flat circular portion 17open in the center thereof is positioned directly over the body of themotor cycle.

A pair of collapsible wings are mounted upon the sides of the wing frame11, each frame consisting of a main rib 19 and a plurality of stay ribs21. The ribs 21 are pivotally mounted upon the sides of the frame 11 andare arranged to be moved from an inoperative closed positionsubstantially parallel to the sides of the frame 11 to an ex tendedoperative position diverging outwardly from the sides of the frame. Asuitable fabric covering 22 is mounted over the stay ribs.

The main ribs 19 each consist of a suitable frame 19 having a suitablecovering 19". The ribs are mounted by means of suitable mountingelements 23 engaging arcuate slots 24 formed in the frame portion 17 andaranged to permit the ribs to swing through substantially 90 of pivotalmovement. The upper rearward edge of each rib 19 is provided with aflange 26 arranged to interlock with a flanged member 27 secured uponthe edge of the covering 22. The main ribs 19 are supported upon theunder side of the frame portion 17 and the mounting elements 23 arearranged substantially 90 apart to obtain a rigid and stable mounting.The ribs 19 taper toward their outer ends and are arranged to be swungunder the stay ribs 21 and substantially parallel to said ribs 21 andthe sides of the frame 11 when moved to inoperative position and toextend outwardly at substantially right angles to the frame when movedto operative position.

The wings are arranged to be moved between their operative andinoperative positions by means of cables 28 and 29. A cable 28 isconnected to one of the mounting elements 23 of each wing and extendedaround a roller 31 and wound upon a drum 32 mount ed upon the frame 11,both cables 28 being wound onto the same drum. The cables 29 areconnected at one end to the extreme outer ends of the main ribs 19 andthe ends of each of the stay ribs 21 associated therewith said cablesbeing extended around rollers 33 mounted upon the rearward portion ofthe frame 11 and carried onto a drum 34 mounted adjacent the drum 32.The cables are preferably joined into a single cable 29 between therollers 33 and the drum 34 whereby said cables are taken in or paid outfrom said drum as a single cable.

The drums 32 and 34 are actuated by a suitable crank 36 connected to thedrum 32 and provided with a gear 37 meshing with a pimon 38 arranged toactuate the drum 34 at a speed adapted to take in and pay out the cable29 at a rate exceeding the speed of the drum 32 in the same ratio thatthe length of cable 29 exceeds the length of cable 28 necessary toobtain a complete movement of the wings between their operative andinoperative positions.

Bracing members 39, hinged as at 41 at their centers, are pivotallyconnected between the ends of adjacent wing ribs. Then the wings areextended, the members 39 are strengthened into axial alinement as bestshown in Fig. 12, and form braces rigidly holding the ends of the ribsin properly spaced relation. \Vhen the wings are folded to inoperativeposition the members are swung upwardly and moved to substantiallyparallel relation and displace the covering 22 into regular upwardlydisposed folds as best shown in Fig. 13 of the drawings.

A steering member, comprising a pair of vertically spaced horizontalrudders 42 and a vertically disposed rudder 43 centrally disposedbetween said rudders 42, is mounted for universal movement upon therearward end of the frame 11 by means of a ball and socket oint 44. Thehorizontal and vertical rudders are actuated together as a singleelement by means of pairs of cables 46 and 47. The cables 46 areconnected to the rudders 42 at transversely opposite points thereon andare crossed and extended longitudinally forward along the frame andsecured to the handle bar 7 upon opposite sides of the axis of pivotalmovement thereof as at 48 whereby the movement of said bar about avertical pivot, as in steering the motor-cycle, operates to actuate therudder about a vertical axis and thereby operate to steer by means ofthe vertical rudder.

The cables 47 operate to move the rudder member about a horizontal axis,said cables being connected to the upper and lower rudder portions andbeing extended forwardly into engagement with the ends of an actuatinglever 49 pivotally mounted as at 50 upon a stationary post 51 securedupon the frame 11 around the upper portion of the fork member 3, bymeans of downwardly curved and outwardly offset lateral extensions 52cxtending upon opposite sides of the post 57. Projections 52 are formedupon the lever 49 immediately in front and back of the upper end of thefork member 3 and engaged by oppositely disposed sections 54 formed uponthe handle-bar 7 whereby the handle-bar and the member 3 may be movedpivotally about a vertical axis independently of the lever 49 while apivotal movement of the handle bar 7 about its horizontal pivot upon thetop of the member 3 will cause the sections 54 to engage the projections52 and actuate the lever 49 and cause the cables 47 to move the ruddermember upon a horizontal axis. The cables 47 are carried over suitablerollers 56 and guides 57 to insure free movement and correct alinementof the cables.

A stabilizing plane 58 is secured upon the forward portion of the wingframe 11 to assist in maintaining a proper balance when in the air.

A suitable propeller 59 is mounted upon the extreme forward end of theframe 11. The propeller is driven from the power motor 8 by suitabledriving connections connected there between. In the drawings I haveillustrated an arrangement wherein a drive member 61 is connectedbetween the motor 8 and a pulley or sprocket 60 upon a shaft 62 mountedupon the frame 11 and provided with a bevel gear 63 meshing with a gear64 keyed upon a shaft 66 extending longitudinally along the frame 11through a casing 67. The outer end of the shaft 66 is geared to apropeller shaft 68 arranged parallel to the shaft 66 and extendinglongitudinally along the frame 11 through a casing 69 provided with asuitable split thrust bearing 71. The gearing between the shafts 66 and68 may be of any desired arrangement as at 72, a plurality of gearsarranged to obtain a variable transmission being preferred. As thespecific structure of such transmission does not constitute a part ofthe present invention, a detailed description is unnecessary.

In practice, our improved machine, constructed and assembled as abovedescribed, may be operated either for transportation along the ground orin air. As a motor-cycle, the operator, seated upon the usual seat 73,operates the machine in the ordinary manner, the wings being folded toinoperative position along the sides of the frame 11. lVhen it isdesired to operate the machine in the air, the wings are moved to extendthe wings to operative position by winding the cables 28 onto the drums32, thereby drawing the mounting elements 23 from folded position asshown upon the folded wing portion in Fig. 1 to the position shown incon nection with the extended wing in said figure, thereby swinging themain ribs outwardly to the operative extended position. The drum 34 isactuated simultaneously with the drum 32, thereby paying out the cables29 as the ends of the ribs 19 move away from the frame 11. As the mainribs move outwardly from under the folded stay ribs 21, the flanges 26and 27 are moved into interlocking relation whereby the coverings 22 aredrawn taut as the wings are spread. As the wings are spread, the bracingmembers 89 are extended to brace the ends of the stay ribs 21 and holdthe same in rigidly spaced relation.

WVhen the wings are thus extended they form planes of substantial areaextending out ardly from the sides of the machine. The machine ispropelled along the ground, either by the motor-cycle transmissiondriving the rear wheel 3, or by means of the air propeller 59 untilsufficient speed has been attained to take off from the ground.Thereafter the propeller is actuated to maintain the necessary flyingvelocity.

While in the air, the machine is steered by manipulating the handle bar7, said bar being turned about its vertical pivot axis to operate thevertical rudder, and turned about its hori zontal pivot axis to actuatethe horizontal rudders from the lever 49, the rudder member being turnedupon its universal mounting to present resistance tending to turnthemachine in the desired direction.

The wings, steering rudders and connec tions and the air propeller andits driving connections are mounted upon the wing frame 1 and entirelysupported thereby, thus permitting the frame to be detached from themotorcycle to permit use of said motor-cycle entirely independently ofthe flying attachments. The frame and flying mechanism may beconstructed and assembled entirely inde pendently of the motor-cycle andsold as an independent article of manufacture to be assembled upon amotor-cycle of standard make. The entire structure is relatively lightand compact and may be easily and efficiently operated and convenientlystored when not in use.

While We have illustrated and described our invention in what we nowregard as the preferred embodiment, the device is of course subject tomodification in a great number of ways as to the specific constructionand arrangement of the elements. e therefore do not wish to restrictourselves to the specific details of construction and arrangementillustrated and described, but desire to avail ourselves of allmodifications which may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. A flying machine comprising thecombination with a motor-cycle consisting of a wheel supported framehaving steering means and means for driving the cycle upon the ground,of a wing frame mount-ed upon the frame of the cycle; a pair ofcollapsible wings mounted upon the sides of the wing frame andconsisting of a plurality of ribs pivotally mounted upon the wing frameand a. covering mounted over the ribs, said ribs being movable from aclosed position substantially parallel to the sides of the frame to anopen position extending the covering to form fan shaped wings extendingoutwardly from the sides of the frame; means connect-ed between theouter ends of adjacent ribs for moving the covering into folds when thewings are collapsed and for bracing the ends of said ribs when the wingsare extended; a propeller; and means for actuating the propeller topropel the machine in air.

2. A flying machine comprising the combination with a motor-cycleconsisting of a wheel supported frame having steering means and meansfor driving the cycle upon the ground of a wing frame mounted upon theframe of the cycle; a pair of collapsible wings mounted upon the sidesof the wing frame and consisting of a plurality of ribs pivotallymounted upon the wing frame and a covering mounted over the ribs, saidribs being movable from a closed position substantially parallel to thesides of the frame to an open position extending the covering to formfan shaped wings extending outwardly from the sides of the frame; meansconnected between the outer ends of adjacent ribs for moving thecovering into folds when the wings are collapsed and for bracing theends of said ribs when the wings are extended; a propeller; means foractuating the propeller to propel the machine in air; steering means;and connections extending between said steering means and the steeringmechanism of the cycle for steering the machine when in air.

3. A flying machine coniprising the combination with a motor-cycleconsisting of a wheel supported frame having means for driving the cycleupon the ground. of a wing frame mounted upon the frame of the cycle; apair of collapsible wings mounted upon the sides of the wing frame andeach consisting of a plurality of ribs pivotally mount.- ed upon thewing frame and a fabric cover mounted over the ribs; a pair of cablesconnected to the ribs of each wing and arranged to be paid out or takenin to move the ribs between an inoperative closed position substantiallyparallel to the sides of the wing frame and an open diverging operativeposition extending the covering to form wings extending outwardly fromthe sides of the wing frame; and means for propelling the machine in theair.

f. A flying machine comprising the combination with a n'1otorcyclehaving a wheel supported frame, of a wing frame mounted upon the frameof the cycle; a pair of collapsible wings mounted upon the sides of thewing frame and each consisting of a main outer rib and a plurality ofstay ribs pivotally mounted upon the frame and having a. fabric coveringmounted thereon; a pair of cables connected to each main rib of eachwing for moving said rib between an inoperative position substantiallyparallel to the wing frame and an outwardly extending operative positionone of said cables being connected to the ends of the stay ribs; drumsar anged to take in and pay out said cables; and means for propellingthe machine in the air.

A flying machine con'iprising the combination with a motor-cycle havinga wheel supported frame, of a wing frame mounted upon the frame of thecycle; a pair of colla-psible wings mounted upon the sides of the wing f'ame and each consisting of a main outer rib and a plurality of stayribs pivotally mounted upon the fran'le and having a fabric coveringmounted thereon; cables connected to each main rib for moving said riband the stay ribs between inoperative positions substantially parallelto the sides of the wing frame and outwardly diverging operativepositions; hinged links connected between the ends of adjacentstays fordisplacing the fabric covering into parallel folds when the ribs aremoved to inoperative position and for bracing the ends of the stays whenin operative position; and means for propelling the machine in the air.

(5. A flying machine comprising the combination with a motor-cycleconsisting of a wheel frame having steering means and means forpropelling the cycle along the ground of a wing frame mounted upon theframe of the cycle and provided with longitudinally disposed forward andrearward extensions; collapsible wings mounted upon the wing frame andarranged to be moved between inoperative closed positions and operativeextended positions; propelling means mounted upon the forward extensionof the wing frame and connected with the cycle propolling means forpropelling the machine in the air; and steering means mounted upon therearward extension of the wing frame and comprising horizontal andvertical rudder portions fabricated to form an integral structure andmounted for universal movement upon the rearward extension of the wingframe; and connections extending between the rudder structure and thesteering means of the cycle for actuating said rudder structure to steerthe machine when in the air.

7. A flying machine comprising the combination with a motor-cycleconsisting of a wheel supported. frame having a pivotally movable forkforming a mounting for a wheel and a handle bar connected to the forkfor moving the same to steer the cycle along the ground, of a wing framemounted upon the frame of the cycle; wings mounted upon the wing frame;steering means mounted upon the rearward end of the wing frame andcomprising horizontal and vertical rudders secured together and mountedfor universal movement upon the frame; cables connected between thesteering means and the handle bars for moving the rudders about avertical axis when the handle bars are moved to turn the steering fork;and cables connected between the rudders and the handle bar for movingthe rudder about a horizontal axis, the handle bar being arranged to bemoved pivotally about a horizontal axis independently of the pivotalmovement of the stecrin g fork; and means for propelling the n'lachinealong the ground or in the air.

8. A flying machine comprising the combination with a motor-cycleconsisting of a wheel supported frame having a pivotally movable forkforming a mounting for a wheel and a handle bar connected to the forkfor moving the same to steer the cycle along the ground, of a wing framemounted upon the frame of the cycle; wings mounted upon the wing frame;steering means mounted upon the rearward end of the wing frame andcomprising horizontal and vertical rudders secured together and mountedfor universal movement upon the frame; cables connected between thesteering means and the handle bars for moving the rudders about avertical axis when the handle bars are moved to turn the steering fork;and cables connected between the rudders and the handle bar for movingthe rudder about a horizontal axis, the handle bar being arranged to bemoved pivotally about a horizontal axis independ ently of the pivotalmovement of the steering fork; means for propelling the machine alongthe ground or in the air; and a stabilizing plane rigidly secured uponthe forward end of the wing frame.

9. A flying machine comprising the combination with a motor-cycleconsisting of a wheel supported frame having a pivotally movable forkforming a mounting for a wheel and a handle bar connected to the forkfor turning said fork and also arranged to be moved pivotally upon ahorizontal axis independently of the turning of the fork, of a wingframe mounted upon the frame of the cycle; a pair of collapsible wingsmounted upon the wing frame; means for moving the wings between closedinoperative positions substantially parallel to the sides of the wingframe and extended operative positions spreading outwardly from thesides of the frame to form planes; steering means mounted upon therearward end of the wing frame and comprising a pair of horizontalrudders and a vertical rudder rigidly secured between the horizontalrudders, said rudders being mounted for universal movement; cablesconnected between the rudders and the handle bars for moving the ruddersabout a vertical axis when the handle bar is moved to turn the steeringfork; cables connected between the rudders and the handle bar for movingthe rudders about a horizontal axis when the handle bar is turned uponits horizontal axis; a power motor mounted upon the cycle frame; meansdriven by the motor for propelling the machine along the ground; apropeller; and means connected between the motor and the propeller foractuating said propeller to propel the machine in the air.

10. In a flying machine, the combination with a motor-cycle frame, of awing frame mounted upon the cycle frame and provided with an opencircular portion over the cycle frame, said portion having arcuate slotsupon opposite sides of said frame; a main wing rib mounted upon eachside of the wing frame and having means engaging the arcuate slotsformed in said wing frame for supporting said ribs in closed inoperativeposition along the sides of the frame and in outwardly extendedoperative position; a plurality of stay ribs pivotally mounted upon eachside of the frame; a fabric covering mounted over the ribs; and meansfor spreading the ribs from inoperative positions along the sides of theframe to outwardly diverging relation to extend the covering.

11. In a flying machine, the combination with a motor-cycle frame, of awing frame mounted upon the cycle frame and provided with an opencircular portion over the cycle frame, said portion having arcuate slotsupon opposite sides of said frame; a main wing rib mounted upon eachside of the wing frame and having means engaging the arcuate slotsformed in said wing frame for supporting said ribs in closed inoperativeposition along the sides of the frame and in outwardly extendedoperative position; a plurality of stay ribs pivotally mounted upon eachside of the frame; a fabric covering mounted over the ribs; means forspreading the ribs from inoperative positions along the sides of theframe to outwardly diverging relation to extend the covering; and meansconnected between the ends of the ribs for b "acing said ends when inextended positions and for displacing the covering into folds when movedto closed position.

12. In aflying machine, the combination with a motor-cycle frame, of awing frame mounted upon the motor-cycle frame; a pair of collapsiblewings mounted upon the sides of the wing frame, said wings eachcomprising a main rib and a plurality of stay ribs pivotally mountedupon the frame and a fabric covering mounted over the ribs; cablesconnected to the main ribs for moving said ribs from inoperativeposition along the side of the wing frame to outwardly extendingoperative position; cables connected to the ends of the main ribs andthe stay ribs for moving the ribs to inoperative positions along thesides of the wing frames; and means for paying out or taking in thecables to extend or collapse the wings.

13. In a flying machine the combination with a motor-cycle frame, of awing frame mounted upon the motor-cycle frame; a pair of wings mountedupon the sides of the wing frame, said wings each comprising a main riband a plurality of stay ribs pivotally mounted upon the frame and afabric covering mounted over the ribs; cables connected to the main ribsfor moving said ribs from inoperative position along the sides of thewing frame to outwardly extending operative position; cables connectedto the ends of the main ribs and the stay ribs for moving the ribs toinoperative positions along the sides of the wing frames; winding drumsarranged to take in and pay out the cables; and means for actuating thedrums simultaneously and at different speeds to extend or collapse theWings.

1%. In a flying machine, the combination with a motor-cycle frame of awing frame mounted upon the cycle frame; a pair of wings mounted uponthe sides of the wing frame, said wings each comprising a main rib and aplurality of stay ribs pivotally mounted upon the frame and a fabriccovering mounted over the stay ribs; means detachably connecting thecovering with the main rib when in extended position; and means formoving the ribs between inoperative positions along the sides of thewing frame and operative extended positions.

15. A flying machine comprising the combination with a motor-cycleconsisting of a wheel supported frame having means for driving the cycleupon the ground, of a wing frame mounted upon the frame of the cycle; apair of collapsible wings mounted upon the sides of the wing frame andeach consisting of a main rib and a plurality of stay ribs allindependently pivoted upon the sides of the wing frame and movable fromcollapsed positions substantially parallel to the sides of the wingframe to extended operative positions outwardly diverging from the sidesof said frame, and a fabric covering mounted over the ribs; a cableconnected to each main rib; a drum adapted to receive said cables andoperable to take in said cables simultaneously to move said main ribsfrom collapsed position to extended position; a second cable connectedto each main rib and to the ends of each stay rib of each wing; and adrum adapted to take in said cables simultaneously to move the ribs fromextended positions to collapsed positions.

16. A flying machine comprising the c0mbination with a motor-cycleconsisting of a wheel supported frame having means for driving the cycleupon the ground, a wing frame mounted upon the frame of the cycle; apair of collapsible wings mounted upon the sides of the wing frame andeach consisting of a main rib and a plurality of stay ribs allindependently pivoted upon the sides of the wing frame and movable fromcollapsed po sitions substantially parallel to the sides of the wingframe to extended operative positions outwardly diverging from the sidesof said frame, and a fabric covering mounted over the ribs; a cableconnected to each main rib; a drum adapted to receive said cables andoperable to take in said cables simultaneously to move said main ribsfrom collapsed position to extended position; a second cable connectedto each main rib and to the ends of each stay rib of each wing; and adrum adapted to take in said cables simultaneously to move the ribs fromextended positions to collapsed positions; and means for actuating thedrums sinmltancously in opposite direc tions to pay out one pair ofcables as the other pair of cables is being taken in.

17. In a flying machine, a wing frame; a pair of collapsible wingsmounted upon the sides of the wing frame, said wings each comprising amain rib and a plurality of stay ribs each independently pivoted uponthe frame and movable from collapsed position substantially parallel tothe sides of the frame to operative extended positions outwardlydiverging from the sides of the frame; a flexible covering mounted overthe stay ribs; and a flange formed upon each main rib to detachablyengage the adjacent edge of the covering and stretch said covering tautwhen the wing is extended.

18. In a flying machine, a wing frame; a pair of collapsible wingsmounted upon the sides of the wing frame, said wings each comprising amain rib and a plurality of stay ribs each independently pivoted uponthe frame and movable from collapsed position substantially parallel tothe sides of the frame to operative extended positions outwardlydiverging from the sides of the frame; a flexible covering mounted overthe stay ribs; a flange formed upon each main rib to detachably engagethe adjacent edge of the covering and stretch said covering taut whenthe wing is extended; and foldable means connected to the ends ofadjacent ribs to brace the ends of said ribs when extended and to movethe covering into regular folds when the wings are moved to co]- lapsedpositions.

19. In a flying machine, a wing frame; a pair of collapsible wingsmounted upon the sides of the wing frame, said wings comprising aplurality of ribs pivotally mounted upon the sides of the frame andmovable from collapsed position substantially parallel to the sides ofthe frame to extended operative position outwardly diverging from thesides of the frame; a flexible covering mounted over the ribs; andpivotally connected links mounted between the ends of adjacent ribs tobrace said ribs when in extended position and to displace the coveringinto regular folds when the wings are collapsed.

20. In a flying machine, the combination with a motor-cycle frame, of aWing frame mounted upon the motor-cycle frame and provided with forwardand rearward extensions and an open circular central portion arrangedimmediately over the cycle frame and having arcuate slots formedtherein; a pair of main wing ribs provided with mounting means securedat spaced points thereon and engaging the arcuate slots; a plurality ofstay ribs pivotally mounted upon the circular central portion of theframe, said signatures.

EZZIO FRANCESCONI. VALENTINO L. BIANCHI.

' ma mas:

